Paul George and the Indiana Pacers are insisting the reigning All-NBA Third Team honoree is a “long way” from playing a game that counts. How wildly encouraging nonetheless that just under seven months after suffering one of the most gruesome injuries basketball has ever seen, George is back on the practice floor uninhibited.
The 24 year-old superstar practiced in full today for the first time since his August injury. He’d been amping up on-court activities in recent weeks with the hope of officially returning to the floor late this regular season.
Here’s video of George playing five-on-five and taking extra jumpers after the session’s end:
.@Yg_Trece puts up threes after his first full practice: http://t.co/yFapoKpCWd
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) February 26, 2015
Video of Paul George scrimmaging with the team today at practice. Cleared to practice in full. #pacers pic.twitter.com/I4nd0t5eJ8
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) February 26, 2015
Though a bulked-up PG-13 expressed optimism about playing for the Pacers as soon as mid-March, he and coach Frank Vogel wouldn’t commit to an official timeline.
Paul George on returning in mid-March: "That is the date I wish to return … That is still a goal of mine."
— 8 Points, 9 Seconds (@8pts9secs) February 26, 2015
Vogel: "No timetable for his return. He's got a long way to go before he gets cleared to play."
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) February 26, 2015
Vogel said PG in practice is "just taking a step. Nothing more… I'm hopeful [he plays this season] but a lot has to happen before then."
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) February 26, 2015
It’s no surprise that George’s recovery has been so swift. He took on an arduous rehabilitation process with the right attitude from the very beginning, drive that his Pacers peers recently compared to Kobe Bryant’s. With additional strength and extra time to work on his jumper and watch film, too, we expect George’s re-acclimation to be smoother than most players returning from injury.
Does that mean he’ll immediately regain his All-Star form? Of course not. But if doctors clear George to appear in games over the last month of 2014-2015, that could spell great things for his performance as next season tips off. Confidence is tough to come by in the first games played by those returning from a lengthy absence. If George can gain some comfort in late March and early April and attack summer with the expected vigor, there’s every reason to believe he could immediately be the awesome player we remember next fall.
And even if his adjustment takes longer than we’re anticipating, that scenario will hardly deem his rehabilitation anything less than a rousing success. Many believed George’s career might be over just a short time ago; that we’re already pondering the state of it upon his imminent return is reason enough for celebration.
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